The Gift Goes On

Many people think that Christmas is about giving and receiving. While this is the major emphasis of the holiday season, it is not the primary reason for the season. Every believer should remind their family and friends about the birth of Jesus. It is the time of year we pause to celebrate His birthday. God gave us His son who is the greatest person who ever lived. Born to a virgin, He rose from the dead and lives eternally in the hearts of all who will receive Him. The uniqueness of His birth and resurrection from the dead signifies that the gift goes on.

Christmas is not about getting, but receiving. Getting requires some effort on our part; receiving requires little or no effort from us but flows from the heart of the giver. Giving and receiving gifts improve the quality of life. God gave us His son to improve the quality of our lives. He giveth and giveth and giveth again. And the gift goes on

This month we will celebrate Super Sunday. This is a day when we give God a sacrificial offering for all that He has given to us. He gives to us to improve the quality of life and we give to Him to receive quality of life

As we sow our seed offering by faith we believe a greater quality of life will return to us. The gift comes from our heart because it is an expression of our love to Him. His word says the measure we give will be given back to us. (Luke 6:38) And the gift goes on.

The quality of life is more than money. It means increase in a number of areas of our life. The quality of life can come in the healing of relationships, physical health, emotional stability, intellectual opportunities as well as financial stability or increase. When there is a need, plant a seed and watch God bring the increase. And the gift goes on.

There are at least three things we receive from the Lord when He comes into our life.

Firstly we receive the new life. Our lives are changed with His transforming love. Our evil nature is subdued by His righteous nature. We become a new creation with a new life. Our heart, mind and spirit’s desire is to please the Lord. Life becomes sweet and His joy makes us feel complete as this new spiritual nature reigns in us. And the gift goes on

Secondly we receive new light. God gives us revelation we never had before. We become enlightened to His word, spirit and presence. His word enriches us, His spirit empowers us and His presence equips us to walk in the newness of life. We no longer wrestle with guilt or shame but now experience peace, joy and happiness. Light gives us a pure heart and fellowship with our Lord. And the gift goes on

Thirdly we receive new love. Love adds quality to life. Love is the very nature of God himself. Love gives and forgives, encourages and inspires, and rejoices in the right and corrects the wrongs. Love is a powerful tool against your enemies. It is multiplied by dividing it. It believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. The greatest of all gifts is love. And the gift goes on.

This Christmas experience the quality of life by giving and receiving. Freely we have received, freely give. Pass the gift on

To prepare for Pastor’s December Sermon series, Read: Psalm 27:1-3 Romans 10:14-18